70 flippin' knots

[boguing]

70 flippin\' knots

Off Hastings this evening. 1.25 inch hail. Visibility, less than a Contessa 32. Lightning in the thunderstorm every 5 seconds.

Having been the hero on every other such event, decided that, as it was my mate's boat, it was only right for him to have a turn at heroism. He did well, but apparently the hail hurt a lot. I lurked behind the washboards.

Over in 15 minutes, and had a call from the CGs asking if we were ok, which was nice. Someone must have been watching us disappear into it.

Should have taken a picture of the storm cloud as it approached - very strange circular belts around it.

 

[Marmalade]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

last time we were in one of these (can't claim the big hail) the missus happened to be the one in the foulies and helmed all the way through it cursing the weather loudly throughout - a real rite of passage.

Simon

 

[H4B]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Was the sky 'Mystic' perhaps ?

 

[MapisM]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

I only experienced hail at sea inside a mobo comfortable cabin, and it was a bit scary anyway.
How do you cope with hail of such size on a sailing boat, did you wear a helmet!?

 

[FullCircle]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Ouch.

70 knots? Thats worth a few whiskies in front of the fire in the leather chair.....

 

[boguing]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Guilty as charged, M'Lud.

Enema Maam?

 

[boguing]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

The driver certainly would have worn one if we'd had one. I used a saucepan when it happened to me. From down below I could see that it was hailing, but didn't realise how big they were until it stopped.

Suspect that if I'd proffered one I might have got a sharp response at the time. He was a bit busy.

 

[H4B]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

'Enema Maam '-- No, a concernd duck .I thought at the time that you would have caught it. I am glad I witnessed the storm from my kitchen window rather than from a companion way.

 

[Danny Jo]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Just don't forget to remove all those gizmos you put in the oven before you do your next roast. It took me ages to find my handheld GPS the day after a thunderstorm. My thoughtful crew had hidden it under the bottom plate of the oven.

 

[MapisM]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Nice to hear you were both ok at the end, though your mate was a bit hurt.
...the feeling of 1.25" hail hammering head and body isn't definitely on my wish list for new sensations!!!
I guess that even the boat wasn't happy about it. Didn't she suffer any damage?

 

[boguing]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Actually, there were three of on board. Him, his Dad and me.

The boat was unscathed. We had the main flaked, post racing, and only had two ties on it, so it got a bit disheveled but wasn't damaged (the concerned duck may be disappointed to hear). The Genoa was on the foredeck with only one tie and it stayed where it was. Obviously we'd have cleared it all up if we'd known what was coming - but that's complacency and hindsight for you.

The one lesson I learned (again) is that if I'm not using my own lifejacket and harness, get it fitting properly before you need it. It took several minutes to get mine sorted (when I wanted to go on deck to tame the mainsail) which might have been crucial in different circumstances. I'll always make sure that's done if I'm in charge, but we were three very experienced sailors and nobody was acting 'in charge' as we all just do what's needed when the time comes.

 

[jimi]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Shame you did'nt put the storm jib and trisail up .. would have been an excellent opportunity really!

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

[ QUOTE ]
(Snip).... but we were three very experienced sailors and nobody was acting 'in charge' as we all just do what's needed when the time comes.

[/ QUOTE ] I vividly remember a weekend on the Clyde with, AFAIR a group consisting of the vessel's owner (a Yachtmaster Instructor) two or three 'normal' Yachthamsters and a Yachtmeister Examiner. There was quite definitely no-one acting as if they were in charge and we nearly hit a very large stationary floating object. It was dark at the time.

 

[H4B]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Ok now I can put a face to a user name ( a first). Very glad to hear you are all ok and that 'septic pie' was undamaged. You had enough bad luck for one week end with the broken halyard. Its a pity we did so badly in the last race I blame the skipper because he w'ont be reading this.

Cheers

Howard.

 

[H4B]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

[ QUOTE ]
70 knots? Thats worth a few whiskies in front of the fire in the leather chair.....



[/ QUOTE ]


I hear tell boguing had his whiskies 'on account' on Saturday night. Now thats what I call planning ahead.

 

[boguing]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

Yep, nice to meet you too Howard.

Wasn't quite the end of the bad luck though. Car battery was flat when we got back to Rye, then got flashed by a speed camera going through Reigate.

John

 

[mandlmaunder]

Re: 70 flippin\' knots

All Hail the wind swept king!!!